Related Posts
Congratulations to the 2022 GIS Champions!
Gale Brewer, Robert Holden, Stephen Levin
From Left to Right: Gale Brewer, New York City Council Member, District 6 (former Brooklyn Borough President); Robert Holden, New York City Council Member, District 30; Stephen Levin, CEO of Solar One (former New York City Council Member, District 33)
In early 2019 Alan Leidner, then NYC GISMO President, and Wendy Dorf, Member, NYC GISMO Board of Directors with the assistance of Robert Dorf, NYC GISMO member developed the language for City Council legislation to amend the City Charter. The proposed legislation provided for a NYC Geospatial Information Officer (GIO), the development of a Citywide GIS Strategic Plan, and the organization of a Citywide GIS Steering Committee composed of City agency GIS Directors and other key GIS and IT managers.
This legislative proposal was introduced to the City Council through the efforts of then Council Member Stephen Levin, City Council Member Robert Holden – also Chair of the Council’s Technology Committee, and then Brooklyn Borough President Gale Brewer (now Council Member Brewer).
Over the course of two years Stephen, Robert, and Gale shepherded this legislation through the City Council including agency reviews and public hearings. On December 15th, 2021 this legislation (Intro 2158) was passed by a 51 – 0 vote of the City Council.
This legislation is absolutely crucial to the development of GIS in NYC. Because GIS is a “collaborative and sharing technology” it requires a leader and coordinator, a common plan of action, and a team of experts from City agencies. This legislation requires that all three of these steps be taken. We are infinitely grateful to Stephen, Gale, and Robert for making this happen.
To learn more about the 2022 NYS GIS Association Awardees: https://www.nysgis.net/activities/conferences/nys-gis-association-2022-annual-meeting/